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Linking CMV Serostatus to Episodes of CMV Reactivation Following Lung Transplantation by Measuring CMV‐Specific CD8 + T‐Cell Immunity
Author(s) -
Westall G. P.,
Mifsud N. A.,
Kotsimbos T.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2008.02294.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunity , immunology , cellular immunity , cd8 , cytomegalovirus , lung transplantation , t cell , transplantation , quantiferon , betaherpesvirinae , immune system , virology , virus , viral disease , herpesviridae , tuberculosis , pathology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , latent tuberculosis
CMV‐specific immunity was assessed in a longitudinal cohort of 39 lung transplant recipients (LTR) who were followed prospectively from the time of transplant using a novel assay. At the time of surveillance bronchoscopy, CMV‐specific CD8 + T‐cell responses were assessed in the peripheral blood, using the QuantiFERON ® ‐CMV assay, which measures IFN‐γ‐secreting T cells following stimulation with CMV peptides. In total, 297 samples were collected from 39 LTR (CMV D+/R−, n = 8; D+/R+, n = 18; D−/R+, n = 6; D−/R−, n = 7). CMV‐specific T‐cell immunity was not detected in any of the CMV D−/R− LTR. In CMV seropositive LTR levels of CMV immunity were lowest early posttransplant and increased thereafter. While levels of CMV‐specific immunity varied between LTR, measurements at any one time point did not predict episodes of CMV reactivation. In CMV mismatched (D+/R−) LTR, primary CMV immunity was not observed during the period of antiviral prophylaxis, but typically developed during episodes of CMV reactivation. Measuring CMV‐specific CD8 + T‐cell function with the QuantiFERON ® ‐CMV assay provides insights into the interrelationship between CMV immunity and CMV reactivation in individual LTR. A better understanding of these dynamics may allow the opportunity to individualize antiviral prophylaxis in the future.